PASTEL PAINTING

Through a series of studio exercises and studies, students will explore the pastel medium and consider the fundamentals of good picture making.  Primarily, students will work from still life set-ups to develop both painting and observational skills; skills that can later be transferred to the study of landscape or figure painting.

This course is based on techniques developed by Henry Hensche and taught at the Cape Cod School of Art, Provincetown.  Students will learn a light and color-based approach to painting in pastel.   The goal is to begin to see color and to inject a sense of atmospheric light into your pastel painting.  Topics covered will include compositional elements of massing, shape, pattern, form, color, value, temperature, light effect and edges. Dynamic design of the picture space will also be stressed.  Technical characteristics of the medium will be discussed.

Students will be encouraged to observe keenly, to ‘keep it simple’, and to concentrate on procedure.  We will assume that the development of skills is of paramount importance, with the artwork itself being the by-product of our efforts. The instructor will provide personalized instruction for each student.  A group discussion or critique of individual efforts may be beneficial from time to time.

April 10, 2008

Medium:
Soft Pastel
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